Los Angeles Lakers: Complete grades for the 2019 NBA offseason
Re-signed JaVale McGee
The career arc of JaVale McGee has been a tumultuous one, from frenzied beginnings in Washington to brief stints with the Philadelphia 76ers and Dallas Mavericks.
In 2016-17 McGee began his rehabilitation tour, joining the Golden State Warriors and winning two titles as their high-energy vertical-spacing big.
The 31-year-old center is now a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, coming back on a two-year, $8.2 million contract with a second-year player option.
Last season McGee was one of the more reliable members of a disappointing squad, putting up career highs in points, steals and assists while falling just shy of setting marks in rebounds and blocks. In short, he played a lot, a rare feat for McGee.
The best version of the Lakers will be deploying Anthony Davis at center, and all the parties involved know that is the case. That being said Davis prefers to be a power forward, perhaps because it is less wear and tear banging down low with center.
The Western Conference is loaded with talented anchors — Nikola Jokic, Steven Adams, Rudy Gobert, Deandre Ayton — and Davis may not want to fight with them for 82 games.
That is where McGee can step in and be a relatively low-cost option in the starting lineup, freeing Davis up to slide over to the 4. With DeMarcus Cousins likely pairing with Kyle Kuzma off the bench, the Lakers can balance offensive creation between the starting lineup and the reserves.
McGee thrives when the offensive attention is elsewhere and the Lakers put together a roster that should give him a chance to play his part.
Were there better options out there on the center market? Perhaps, but most of those were gone by the time the Lakers knew Kawhi Leonard was turning them down. Of the available options, he seems like a reasonable choice, if not a ceiling-lifting one.